1st Responder Newspaper FDNY October Edition

This section is exclusively dedicated to coverage of the New York City Fire Department PUBLISHING SINCE 1993

FDNY NEWS

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OCTOBER, 2015

FOURTH ALARM IN THE BRONX

JOHN HOPPER

On Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at approximately 8:30 a.m., Bronx companies turned out to 1050 East 232nd Street between Laconia Avenue and Paulding Avenue for a report of a fire in the basement of a private dwelling.

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

STEVE WHITE

JOHN HOPPER

Fourth alarm in the Bronx

STEVE WHITE

FDNY Fire Lieutenant shot

FDNY Fire Lieutenant Jim Hayes of Engine 158 was shot twice while on a fire run in Mariners Harbor, Staten Island on August 14th. The lieutenant was checking for a smoke condition in a private dwelling when a gunman shot him. The fire officer was removed to the hospital and will survive. The gunman was killed by police officers.

On Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at approximately 8:30 a.m., Bronx companies turned out to 1050 East 232nd Street between Laconia Avenue and Paulding Avenue for a report of a fire in the basement of a private JUMP TO FILE# 082515110 dwelling.

While responding, Battalion 15 transmitted the 1075 for a heavy amount of smoke in the area.

The 15 arrived on scene and put All Hands to work for a heavy smoke and fire condition on the second floor of a three story 20x50 private dwelling. An additional engine and truck were requested.

Two lines were stretched and were quickly put into operation.

The fire spread throughout the building, requiring the transmission of a second alarm.

Two more lines were stretched and placed into operation. Division 7 requested two additional truck companies to the scene for fire duty and shortly after transmitted a third alarm.

A fifth line was stretched into Exposure 2 to attack the fire from that angle.

With the help from the handlines and a ladder pipe off of Ladder 39's rig, the fire was evenutually knocked down.

A fourth alarm was transmitted for relief purposes and the fire was placed under control with an approximate two and a half hour duration.

- JOHN HOPPER

JOHN HOPPER

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

October, 2015

PAGE 3

FRED BACCHI

FDNY FOUNDATION

Longtime foundation supporter helps mark 150th Anniversary of FDNY

FRED BACCHI

Tour bus into building with injuries

At 2:30 p.m. on August 24th, a Resorts Casinto tour bus was traveling North on Woodhaven Blvd in the Rego Park section of Queens. The driver of the bus reported he swerved to avoid hitting a car. The driver lost control of his bus, which crashed into the rear of 62-87 Woodhaven Blvd. FDNY units removed several passengers from the bus including the driver, who was pinned behind the steering wheel. The building was a three story brick, 30 x 50 occupied dwelling with a law office on the first floor and residential above. Eighteen (18) passengers, including the driver were treated and transported to area hospitals, all with non-life threatening injuries.

A longtime supporter of the FDNY Foundation has once again helped to honor the FDNY. Howard P. Milstein, Chairman of Milstein Properties and Emigrant Savings Bank hosted a ceremony on July 13 to unveil a plaque commemorating the department’s 150th Anniversary.

The event took place at the Kneeling Firefighter Statue outside the headquarters of Emigrant Savings Bank in Manhattan and was part of the yearlong celebration of the FDNY’s 150 years of protecting life and property in New York City. The plaque will be a permanent fixture next to the Kneeling Firefighter.

On Sept. 9, 2001, the Kneeling Firefighter statue arrived at J.F.K. Airport. It was originally meant to pass through the city on its way to the Firefighters Association of Missouri.

The statue was stranded when all air traffic was halted after September 11. The Firefighters Association of Missouri donated the statue to the Firefighters and citizens of New York in recognition of their losses in the attacks.

“On September 11th, the image of a kneeling firefighter was seen countless times as FDNY members dropped to a knee from exhaustion, from heartache or to pause and remember the mentor, friend or loved one they had lost,” said Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro.

“This statue stands as a symbol of our commitment to never forget the supreme sacrifice of 343 FDNY members.”

In the immediate aftermath of September 11, the Milstein family placed the statue outside its Milford Plaza hotel, which provided first responders with accommodations, food and supplies.

JUMP TO FILE #082415150 On the tenth anniversary of September 11, the Kneeling Firefighter was installed permanently on the plaza outside the headquarters of Emigrant Savings Bank.

“After September 11th, this statue stood as a beacon for firefighters and first responders around the nation who came to help. There’s not a day that goes by that people don’t stop and pay tribute here to our first responders,” said Howard P. Milstein, Chairman of Milstein Properties and Emigrant Savings Bank.

“We’re honored to celebrate the resilience, endurance, heroism and service of New York’s Bravest once again on the occasion of its 150th anniversary.”

In addition to their many philanthropic pursuits, Milstein and Emigrant have been staunch supporters of the FDNY Foundation.

Following the 9/11 attacks, the Milstein family opened their buildings and hotels to assist FDNY members and other first responders working in rescue and recovery operations at Ground Zero.

Milstein and Emigrant also bestowed a gift of more than $2.3 million to first responders following Superstorm Sandy; these funds were used to aid more than 2,300 firefighters, police officers and other emergency personnel repair their homes and support their families impacted by the storm.

Mr. Milstein was named an honorary FDNY Battalion Chief in 2012.

“Howard Milstein and the Milstein family have long been great supporters of the New York City Fire Department. In particu-

lar, after Hurricane Sandy, their donations helped so many FDNY families at a time when their own homes were so damaged,” said FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard.

“I live on Staten Island, and at the time, I was the Brooklyn Borough Commander, so I can tell you how much that help meant to so many of our members as they continued to work day and night to help those boroughs get back on their feet.”

“For many years, the Foundation has been the recipient of incredible generosity from Howard Milstein, the Milstein family and Emigrant Savings Bank,” said FDNY Foundation Chairman Stephen Ruzow.

“We could not be more grateful to them for their years of support and for their dedication to the FDNY Foundation and to the Fire Department of the City of New York.”

“The kindness of our partners in this city is tremendous,” said FDNY Foundation Executive Director Jean O’Shea.

“The Milstein family has a long tradition of honoring the FDNY and we are so honored to have their support once again, as they celebrate the department’s milestone year.”

Also at the ceremony, Archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, delivered the invocation and blessed a plaque of the “Firefighter’s Prayer,” which will be displayed at FDNY Headquarters.

State Senator Daniel Squadron presented the Department with a Senate Resolution commemorating the FDNY’s 150th Anniversary.

- FDNY FOUNDATION

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

89 Engine, 50 Truck FDNY HOUSES FDNY HOUSES by Larry Woodcock

The Bronx, like the other boroughs, has many different personalities and distinctive areas.

One of the best neighborhoods is Pelham Bay, also known as Middletown or Schuylerville, which most old timers still refer to when speaking of the neighborhood.

This is one of the top places in the Bronx to live and raise a family with well-kept homes and plenty of shopping along Tremont and Westchester Avenues. These make this a very desirable place to live along with easy access to the New England Thruway and the Cross Bronx.

Originally settled in 1643 by the Dutch and later purchased by Englishman Thomas Pell, the area served as a land buffer during the American Revolutionary War. Along the Bruckner Expressway just off of Tremont Avenue is the Cookoo’s Nest, home to 89 Engine and 50 Truck. Theories abound about this firehouse and how it got its name, but the most plausible goes back to the early 70’s.

Apparently, a particular captain, who was rather eccentric, had his men do some odd things.

One task involved washing the rigs. He made the members clean all of the moldings and trim with a toothbrush. This along with his peculiar ways led to other companies and further interesting details dubbing this house the Cookoo’s Nest.

Additional FDNY Houses columns by Larry Woodcock can be found at www.1rbn.com

Italian and Irish populated the neighborhood for years, but the area has seen a shift in nationalities in recent years.

For those not familiar with this part of the Bronx, one of the borough’s best kept secrets, not sure if it is so secret, is Louie and Ernie’s Pizzeria on Crosby Avenue at the corner of Waterbury Avenue. It is easily one of the best pizzerias in all five boroughs. It is hard to get a pizza to taste this good when it is not a coal oven.

Slices are sold, but I highly recommend getting a whole pie. With it’s thin crust and great, taste you will want to take some home with you.

Another secret is Pelham Bay Park, which is situated at the tip of

the neighborhood and extends into Westchester County. The park is three times the size of Central Park and was created in 1888. This park holds many interesting sites including the Battle of Pell’s Point, which was a skirmish fought between British and American troops in October of 177.

Interestingly, parts of the park fluctuate between being walkable and underwater due to daily and rapid tidal changes in the marshes and the shoreline of Orchard Beach. In addition, several islands are now connected to the mainland by a landfill.

Another place of interest is the city owned Bartow-Pell Mansion, which is a museum and a U.S. National Historic Landmark. Built in

1836, the house was passed between the Bartow and Pell families until it was sold to the City of New York in 1889 by descendants of the Bartow family.

It opened as a museum in 1946 and was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Bronx born actor Jack McGee, a Cardinal Hayes High School graduate who appeared in over one hundred films and television series, worked as a firefighter in 89 and 50 in 1977 to 1980. He left the FDNY to become an actor. Ironically, his first major role was in the 1985 film about a firefighter, Turk182. He is best known for playing Chief Jerry Reilly on the television series Rescue Me, which starred

LARRY WOODCOCK

Dennis Leary. Leary is also a staunch supporter of firefighters across the country.

I made many stops at 89 and 50 over the years and a shout out goes to my friend, Pat Stranzl, who has spent his whole 20 year career in the truck. Good meals and good laughs are the norm.

89 Engine was organized on May 15, 1926 along with 50 Truck. That same year, they moved into the their completed firehouse at 2924 Bruckner Boulevard off of Tremont Avenue.

There have been two line of duty deaths in their history, one from the engine and one from the truck.

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

October, 2015

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

ALLEN EPSTEIN

Two alarms with Colliers Mansion conditions in Brooklyn On August 23, 2015, FDNY firefighters were dispatched to East 16th Street and Avenue T in Midwood, Brooklyn for a fire. Crews arrived at a two brick with fire on the first and second floors. They also encountered Colliers Mansion conditions in the residence. Three hose lines were used to extinguish the fire.

ALLEN EPSTEIN

Fire in waste management plant

On August 20, 2015, FDNY firefighters were dispatched to the waste management plant at Thomas Street and Gardner Avenue in Brooklyn. Crews encountered a fire deep within the plant. Two hose lines were used as well as a front end loader to extinguish the fire.

ALLEN EPSTEIN

Two alarms needed in Queens

On September 8, 2015, FDNY firefighters were dispatched for a house fire at 56 Avenue and 90 Street in Queens. Crews arrived to find fire on the second and third floors of a large vacant Queen Anne style home. The hose lines were used to extinguish the fire. The cause and origin are under investigation.

Cat survives four-story fall from New York City apartment New York A 2-year-old cat, who plummeted from the window of his fourth-floor apartment, is being treated at BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital in downtown New York City.

JUMP TO FILE# The cat, named 082715113 Sammy, suffered a broken right hind leg and broken toes on his right front paw in the fall, which occurred Tuesday morning, August 25th. He also split his hard palate and air leaked into his chest cavity. But Dr. Rachel Carlson, the emergency veterinarian overseeing Sammy’s care, said the injuries could have been much worse.

“Sammy’s doing considerably better today,” Carlson said.

“He’s a very lucky cat. Thankfully, his owner did everything right and sought emergency medical care right away.”

According to Carlson, Sammy was being looked after by a pet-sitter while his owner was out of town. When the owner arrived back at her Village apartment Tuesday, the windows were cracked open more than usual.

Something startled Sammy as he was sitting in the windowsill and he fell out the window, taking the screen with him.

Carlson has stitched up Sammy’s palate, put a splint on his right front paw and removed the air

from his chest. Today, she will perform more X-rays and consult with Dr. Philippa Pavia, a board-certified veterinary surgeon with BluePearl, to discuss options for fixing Sammy’s broken hind leg surgically.

Carlson said it’s not all that unusual for cats to fall out of windows.

In fact, it happens frequently enough in urban settings that veterinarians have a term for the phenomenon – “high-rise syndrome.”

Oddly, Sammy may have been at less risk for injury if he had fallen from an even greater height. Studies show that cats suffer more severe injuries from falls between the second and seventh floor than from falls above seven stories. That’s because when they stop accelerating, cats no longer sense they are falling and relax, which allows them to better absorb the impact.

- CARRIE J. O'BRION

BLUEPEARL VETERINARY PARTNERS

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October, 2015

Organization remembers first responders through service animals

STEVE WHITE

Suspicious fire destroys Staten Island vacant At aproximately 2:20 p.m. on August 6th, a suspicious fire engulfed a vacant private dwelling at 33 Stanley Ave. in New Brighton, Staten Island. A second alarm was transmitted for extension to exposure 2. The fire was brought under control in about one hour.

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FDNY Engine 157 Ladder 80

ROBERT PAV (FDNY RETIRED)

FDNY Fire Marshal and Army Reservist Warrant Officer 1 Ronald Bucca was a proud father, husband, friend, fireman, soldier, and nurse.

He has been remembered as a soldier's soldier to members of the Special Forces and Army Reserve communities, where he UMP TO FILE # served for 29 years J081015115 and a fireman's fireman to not just the FDNY, where he was a member for 23 years, but the firefighting community as a whole.

Mr. Bucca's compassion brought aid and relief to people struggling to find safety and to stay alive in times of disaster.

His desire to bring comfort to those in need continued to the end on September 11, 2001 when the World Trade Center's second tower claimed this brave warrior's life.

Mr. Bucca dreamed of going into the military and at age 17 his career began in the Army serving as a helicopter crewman in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.

Immediately after discharge, he joined the Army Reserves, serving in the 42nd Infantry Division of the New York National Guard, as a Green Beret with the 11th Special Forces Group, the 5/5th Field Artillery Division, the 77th Regional Support Command, and the 800th Military Police Command, 3413th Military Intelligence Detachment.

At the time of his death, Mr. Bucca was working as an Intel Analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Warrant Officer 1.

According to LTC Kevin Murphy, USASOC Assistant Chief of Staff, Ret. "Mr. Bucca was the epitome of the Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage throughout his military career and into his firefighting career."

According to his friends, he was a team player from start to finish, even after he traded in his Green Beret and battle dress uniform for a firefighting helmet and gear. Mr. Bucca's son, a Green Beret himself, followed in his father's footsteps in 2002 and is currently on his fifth deployment.

In 1978, Mr. Bucca joined the ranks of the New York City Fire Department. He served with Engine Company 95, Ladder Company 2, the Fitness Unit, Rescue

Company One, the Fire Department Terrorist Task Force and in 1992 was promoted to Fire Marshal.

In 1986, while a member of Rescue 1‚ in an attempt to rescue a brother firefighter‚ Mr. Bucca fell five stories‚ suffering severe injuries including a broken back.

Although many believed his career was over‚ with intensive rehabilitation and sheer determination, he returned to full duty within a year.

Fire officials afterward noted that Mr. Bucca had struck a telephone wire and a pair of cables on the way down, but speculated that his survival may have ultimately been due to his Special Forces parachute training.

He landed on his hands and feet some said like a huge muscular cat. The men at Rescue 1 nicknamed him “The Flying Fireman."

Mr. Bucca was part of the team which investigated the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and in 2000 became the sole field member of the FDNY Joint Terrorism Task Force.

From what he had learned from his research with the task force and the military, Mr. Bucca was certain the threat of a terrorist attack was only growing and was said to have kept a set of building plans of the Twin Towers in his Fire Marshal’s locker.

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Mr. Bucca contacted his wife to say that a plane crashed into the first World Trade Center

WARRIOR CANINE CONNECTION

building. LTC Murphy would later say, "He didn't have to be there.

Here's Ron the Fire Marshal, the first and only Fire Marshal in the history of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to be killed in the line of duty. Those are the values he lived by; it's a testament and summation of his life."

Upon arriving to the scene, Mr. Bucca and Supervisor James Devery, started up the stairwell of WTC Tower 2. On the 30th floor, they encountered a woman, who was incapacitated and Supervisor Devery escorted her from the building as Mr. Bucca continued running up the stairs towards the 79th floor.

That was the last time he was seen.

Thucydides wrote: “The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and notwithstanding go out to meet it. “ This is what Fire Marshal WO1 Ronald Bucca did on September 11, 2001.

In full knowledge of the danger he was running towards, he climbed 79 flights of stairs to aid innocent civilians.

When Mr. Bucca's body was recovered a month later, he was found a short distance from a group of civilians, and covering those civilians was his Fire Department turnout coat.

- WARRIOR CANINE CONNECTION

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

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October, 2015

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Three alarms needed in Elmhurst At 2:50 a.m. on Sunday, August 9, 2015, Queens’s fire units responded to a reported structure fire at 52 Ave and 70 Street, in the Elmhurst section of the borough.

Squad 288 transmitted the 1075 followed closely by Battalion 46 with the transmission of the second alarm.

The original fire building was a two story brick 20 x 40, attached on both sides.

The fire started in the basement and quickly spread to the upper floors of 70-09 52 Avenue. Fire had

JUMP TO FILE #081015117 then spread to each exposure.

All the residents from the homes were able to self-evacuate.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries and one other person refused medical attention at the scene.

The fire was under control at 4:50 a.m.

- FRED BACCHI

Additional photos from this incident can be found on our website at www.1rbn.com

Member from Ladder 136 overhauls second floor of fire building.

FRED BACCHI

NEVER FORGET If you have photos you would like to see in our Never Forget feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.

NYC FIRE MUSEUM BILL TOMPKINS, WWW.BTFIREPHOTOS.COM

BILL TOMPKINS, WWW.BTFIREPHOTOS.COM

FDNY 150 Truck and FDNY Ambulance 2 Ceremonial Unit in a downpour on the night before 9/11

New York City Fire Museum holds September 11th Memorial Service The New York City Fire Museum marked the fourteenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center with a memorial service commemorating the supreme sacrifice made by 343 members of the FDNY. The memorial service was held on Friday, September 11th at 1 p.m. inside the museum's permanent 9-11 memorial. In attendance were FDNY Chief of Department James E. Leonard, FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Robert Turner, as well as

JUMP TO FILE #090915117 many active and retired FDNY members.

The New York City Fire Museum contains the first permanent memorial to the 343 FDNY members who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Housed in two adjoining rooms, this solemn sky-lit tribute includes a black marble and tile memorial with pictures of the FDNY members lost in the at-

tacks; the bunker coat and helmet of FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge, cases displaying tools used and items recovered from the Ground Zero recovery effort; newspaper coverage of the attacks and images of nationwide tributes to the FDNY; and a wall-size timeline chronicling that day's tragic events.

The New York City Fire Museum was open, free of charge, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, September 11th.

- NYC FIRE MUSEUM

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October, 2015

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

Vehicle News

What You See Isn’t Necessarily What You’ve Got

EMS ISSUE CHELLE CORDERO

KEN SNYDER

FDNY Brush Fire Unit 7 is an 4WD 2015 International/KME 500/500/20.

You’re called to the scene of heated family dispute; a young man is throwing things against the wall and his mother is scared so she dialed 911. The police arrive moments before the ambulance crew and announce that the scene is secure.

You enter and mom tells you that her son is autistic and gives you a list of medications he’s on.

She adds that his behavior isn’t normal.

Since autistic patients often respond better with familiarity you ask mom to come in the ambulance with you while you transport the young man to the hospital. While in route to the hospital, mom begins to complain of a headache and nausea…

Suddenly you begin to wonder if the young man’s erratic behavior is being caused by something other than his autism.

Some apparent behavioral disorders often have some not-soobvious causes. It’s necessary to look beyond the assumptions and actually treat the patient to the best of our abilities.

The “intoxicated patient” that

dispatch sent you to may not have had a drop of alcohol, the angry and foul mouthed senior may normally be docile and polite, and the hysterically crying teen may have something wrong beyond simple upset.

Toxins, drugs, diabetic emergencies, physical traumas, fevers, strokes, CO poisoning, internal hemorrhaging, pain, hypo/hyperthyroidism, and some tumors may present as behavioral disorders.

A chemical imbalance can cause confusion, erratic behavior, tremors, lack of response, or unconsciousness. Failure to medically treat some of these conditions may cause more harm, or worse, for your patient.

Dealing with emotionally disturbed or volatile patients can be challenging and even dangerous.

Your first priority is always safety for yourself, your crew and your patient.

Restraints, soft only, should only be considered if the patient is a threat to you, others or him/herself — and if restraints were necessary, don’t remove or loosen them because the patient “promises” to behave.

Be careful, if restraints are used, that you are not impeding the patient’s ability to breathe or cutting off circulation. No matter what the situation is, your patient is a human being and entitled to both quality care and respect.

BOB LONG

FDNY Engine 289 is a 2015 KME 2000/500.

KEN SNYDER

RON JEFFERS

The FDNY received four Haz Mat Technician Unit (HMTU) apparatus built be Ferrara. They will be assigned to Engine Co.'s 44, 165, 250 and 274.

Always evaluate your patient from a medical standpoint in case there is any physiological cause for his behavior.

Even if there is a physically medical explanation, such as hypoglycemia, causing the patient’s volatility, use caution because he can still cause harm by striking out.

Remain alert at all times.

If your patient is suffering a case of acute anxiety disorder, severe depression, uncontrollable rage, there is no need to force him to talk out his problems (if he wants to talk you can certainly listen) but don’t push an attitude adjustment or lecture him on what he should be feeling.

Be careful in dealing with suicidal patients, ordering them to put down a weapon or come off a ledge may be perceived to be more of a challenge than a suggestion.

The best idea is to remain calm and express concern for the patient; transport to the appropriate medical facility (local protocol may indicate a psychiatric facility) and leave counseling to the professionals.

Remember whenever you respond to an EDP (emotionally disturbed patient), be alert and aware of scene safety, remain calm, don’t assume anything, call for assistance (law enforcement) if necessary, transport and document everything carefully.

1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY

October, 2015

PAGE 11

Risk, Possibility, and Probability STAYING SAFE

Chief Henry Campbell

The following article was first published in 2006 and has been revised and updated as I discuss risk in the next few columns.

It was April, 2006 when a midwest fire department responded to a controlled burn that had gotten out of control and spread to adjacent brush.

During the operations at the fire, one of the apparatus became stuck in soft ground. In order to free the mired apparatus, a tractor was employed to do the pulling and a driver needed to steer the fire apparatus.

During the towing operation, according to reports, the clevis connection failed and the tow rope/cable whipped back through the windshield striking the firefighter steering the apparatus in the forehead. He was flown to the nearest trauma center, where he underwent brain surgery. The firefighter passed away as a result of his injuries a few days later.

Over the years, the word risk has become a common word in the field of firefighter safety. We risk a lot to save a lot, and we risk little to save little. Of course the risk that we are talking about is one’s life.

How much jeopardy (risk) shall we place upon our life in order to accomplish a specific task or function? When we speak of risk, isn’t there risk in our everyday lives as well?

The potential to fall in the shower, get hit by a car, be involved in a motor vehicle accident, having something fall on us, or just simply trip and fall injuring ourselves.

What about the folks in our great country who live in areas devastated by a multitude of other possibilities like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes?

Do we lock ourselves at home only to have the ceiling fall on us?

Do we pack our bags and move?

The answer to both questions, of course not!

We go about our daily routine with very little thought given to the aforementioned risks as life goes on. We base our rationale on possibility versus probability.

There are those who have the sky falling, as everything is possible, but the folks who crunch numbers based on past experience talk in probabilities.

Like what was the probability of that clevis failing?

It is the real world we operate in and therefore we must, when making a risk assessment, consider probability over possibility.

Doing so does not negate a review of all the risk factors that may be encountered on scene and consideration given to both possibility and probability.

The proper risk analysis requires one to eliminate any life hazard whenever and wherever possible, or to reduce the risk hazard by altering the plan of operations whenever the hazard cannot be eliminated, and in this case visually checking the tow rope/cable and related equipment.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines Probability as a number expressing the likelihood that a specific event will occur, expressed as the ratio of the number of actual occurrences to the number of possible occurrences.

It defines Possibility as the fact or state of being possible, something that is possible; and it defines Accident as an unexpected and undesirable event, especially one resulting in damage or harm: car accidents on icy roads.

Risk is defined as a factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger.

Could one have planned for such an incident? The possibility of the tow rope or cable may have been a passing thought for most on scene personnel.

How old was the cable or rope?

Was it inspected prior to use? It would still have to penetrate the windshield, which was acting as a simple protective barrier, but whoever would think it would or could happen.

How about your operations at motor vehicle incidents? Do you clear the immediate area of all personnel whenever the tow truck hooks up to a disabled vehicle?

What is the reliability and dependability of the tow cable? Who certifies the operator of the tow vehicle?

Many questions to which I don’t have the answers, but all pose the potential of risk should the cable snap and how much thought do we give to that occurring?

Do we continue to second guess ourselves about every detail after making a decision, if we do, nothing will be accomplished?

There is only so much that we can prepare for without becoming paranoid.

If we believe that everything can and will go wrong, there will be little need for us to leave the fire station.

We do our best to be prepared and sometimes, despite all our efforts, things just don't go the way we had anticipated.

In this incident, I believe accident is the correct word, what occurred was just an accident; unfortunately it claimed the life of a firefighter.

Till Next Time, Stay Safe and God Bless!

ALLEN EPSTEIN

MVA with car into a building

On September 10, 2015 at about 9 a.m., Rescue 4 and Engine 292 gave a verbal for a car into a building with a doctor's office on the first floor across from their headquarters at 65 Place and Queens Boulevard. Six people were injured, but non seriously. All patients were removed to a local hospital for treatment. The FDNY used all hands with special units, EMS, NYPD, ESU, Department of Buildings and OEM on the scene.

EMERGENCY WATERCRAFT If you have photos you would like to see in our Emergency Watercraft feature, please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Heather@1stResponderNews.com.

BILL TOMPKINS, WWW.BTFIREPHOTOS.COM

FDNY Marine Co. 9 – “Firefighter II” makes its way up the East River for standby at the Macy’s Fireworks Display. In the background is the replica of the French Tall Ship “Hermione”

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1ST Responder Newspaper - FDNY